Home Office

Undocumented Migrants: Commonwealth

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to provide free legal advice to Commonwealth citizens who have lived in the UK since before 1971 and who now may face deportation because of a lack of documentation.

Caroline Nokes: There will be no charge to obtain new documents or a residence permit. The simple process and the dedicated team assigned to help resolve individual cases should mean that individuals will not need to seek legal advice.Those who arrived in the UK before 1 January 1973 are protected by virtue of their status provided by the 1971 Immigration Act. They will not be liable for deportation and will be able to regularise their stay.

EU Nationals: Health Services

Sir Vince Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure eligible EU citizens have access to healthcare after (a) the UK leaves the EU and (b) June 2021.

Caroline Nokes: The draft Withdrawal Agreement (WA) published in March guarantees the rights of EU citizens and their family members living in the UK, and UK nationals living in the EU.EU citizens living in the UK by 31 December 2020, along with their family members, will be able to stay and continue their lives, with the same access to healthcare, benefits and other public services that they enjoy now. They will need to apply for status under the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 to secure and demonstrate these rights thereafter.

Immigration: Windrush Generation

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 July 2018 to Question 149583 on Immigration: Windrush Generation, how the Taskforce establishes when a case has been completed.

Caroline Nokes: A Windrush case is completed when the Home Office issues and despatches a document to an individual, confirming their status or the outcome of their application.